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J vs. TRU: Jacobs vs. TransUnion Stock Comparison

How do Jacobs (J) and TransUnion (TRU) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.

Company Profile

Jacobs (J) and TransUnion (TRU) are both classified in the Research & Consulting Services sub-industry within the broader Professional Services industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.

Company profile comparison for Jacobs (J) and TransUnion (TRU)
Profile ItemJTRU
NameJacobs Solutions Inc.TransUnion
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorIndustrialsIndustrials
GICS Industry GroupCommercial & Professional ServicesCommercial & Professional Services
GICS IndustryProfessional ServicesProfessional Services
GICS Sub-IndustryResearch & Consulting ServicesResearch & Consulting Services
Market Capitalization17.43 billion USD15.48 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateMarch 17, 1980June 25, 2015
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

J
TRU
GSPC
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Jacobs (J) vs. TransUnion (TRU), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

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Trailing total returns for Jacobs (J) and TransUnion (TRU). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Jacobs (J) and TransUnion (TRU). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Jacobs (J) and TransUnion (TRU)
MetricJTRU
Total Return (1Y)3.06%3.77%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)13.63%16.74%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)6.41%-5.77%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

J
TRU
GSPC
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Jacobs (J) vs. TransUnion (TRU), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

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Distribution of monthly total returns for Jacobs (J) and TransUnion (TRU). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

TransUnion (TRU) has an aggressive beta of 1.52, indicating higher sensitivity to broad-market moves, while Jacobs (J) is defensive at 0.68 and tends to be less market-sensitive — they sit on opposite ends of the beta spectrum.

Risk profile metrics for Jacobs (J) and TransUnion (TRU)
MetricJTRU
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)34.18%42.86%
Beta (5Y)0.681.52
Max Drawdown (5Y)-34.44%-63.37%
Avg. Volume (3M)878.62K2.74M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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J and TRU are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. The dashed Capital Allocation Line runs from the risk-free rate through the shared industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for Jacobs (J) and TransUnion (TRU)
MetricJTRU
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)-0.04-0.01
Sortino Ratio (1Y)-0.05-0.02

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both Jacobs (J) at 8.00% and TransUnion (TRU) at 16.96% land near their industries’ usual ROE ranges, so capital efficiency looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

J

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

8.00%

Max
47.06%
Q3
25.43%
Median
14.11%
J
8.00%
Q1
3.92%
Min
-20.15%

TRU

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

16.96%

Max
47.06%
Q3
25.43%
TRU
16.96%
Median
14.11%
Q1
3.92%
Min
-20.15%
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Jacobs (J) vs. TransUnion (TRU): A comparison of their ROE against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

TransUnion (TRU) at 15.83% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of Jacobs (J) at 2.38%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.

J

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

2.38%

Max
23.28%
Q3
11.35%
Median
5.65%
J
2.38%
Q1
0.87%
Min
-8.60%

TRU

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

15.83%

Max
23.28%
TRU
15.83%
Q3
11.35%
Median
5.65%
Q1
0.87%
Min
-8.60%
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Jacobs (J) vs. TransUnion (TRU): A comparison of their net margin against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

TransUnion (TRU) at 20.36% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of Jacobs (J) at 7.39%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

J

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

7.39%

Max
38.50%
Q3
18.84%
Median
10.40%
J
7.39%
Q1
5.59%
Min
-12.00%

TRU

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

20.36%

Max
38.50%
TRU
20.36%
Q3
18.84%
Median
10.40%
Q1
5.59%
Min
-12.00%
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Jacobs (J) vs. TransUnion (TRU): A comparison of their operating margin against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Jacobs (J) and TransUnion (TRU)
MetricJTRU
ROE (TTM)8.00%16.96%
ROA (TTM)4.55%5.25%
Net Margin (TTM)2.38%15.83%
Operating Margin (TTM)7.39%20.36%
Gross Margin (TTM)22.07%58.82%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Jacobs (J) at 4.60% and TransUnion (TRU) at 9.38% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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Jacobs (J) vs. TransUnion (TRU): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

TransUnion (TRU) at 60.00% sits in the top EPS growth quartile, while Jacobs (J) at -62.34% is in the bottom quartile, showing a clear gap in earnings momentum.

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Jacobs (J) vs. TransUnion (TRU): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Jacobs (J) and TransUnion (TRU)
MetricJTRU
Revenue Growth (YoY)4.60%9.38%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)7.13%7.25%
EPS Growth (YoY)-62.34%60.00%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)-21.82%18.34%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Jacobs (J) at 1.29 and TransUnion (TRU) at 2.03 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.

J

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

1.29

Max
3.63
Q3
2.14
Median
1.55
J
1.29
Q1
1.09
Min
0.45

TRU

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

2.03

Max
3.63
Q3
2.14
TRU
2.03
Median
1.55
Q1
1.09
Min
0.45
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Jacobs (J) vs. TransUnion (TRU): A comparison of their current ratio against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

TransUnion (TRU) at 1.10 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while Jacobs (J) at 1.25 uses more debt funding than most peers.

J

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

1.25

Max
2.37
J
1.25
Q3
1.25
Median
0.88
Q1
0.35
Min
0.00

TRU

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

1.10

Max
2.37
Q3
1.25
TRU
1.10
Median
0.88
Q1
0.35
Min
0.00
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Jacobs (J) vs. TransUnion (TRU): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Jacobs (J) and TransUnion (TRU)
MetricJTRU
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.292.03
Debt / Equity (MRQ)1.251.10
Net Debt / EBITDA2.722.90

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Jacobs (J) at 0.92% and TransUnion (TRU) at 0.62% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.

J

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

0.92%

Max
4.33%
Q3
1.80%
J
0.92%
Median
0.60%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

TRU

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

0.62%

Max
4.33%
Q3
1.80%
TRU
0.62%
Median
0.60%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Jacobs (J) vs. TransUnion (TRU): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

TransUnion (TRU) at 11.92% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while Jacobs (J) at 45.18% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.

J

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

45.18%

Max
99.58%
J
45.18%
Q3
41.99%
Median
17.27%
Q1
0.00%
Min
-17.94%

TRU

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

11.92%

Max
99.58%
Q3
41.99%
Median
17.27%
TRU
11.92%
Q1
0.00%
Min
-17.94%
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Jacobs (J) vs. TransUnion (TRU): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Jacobs (J) and TransUnion (TRU)
MetricJTRU
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.92%0.62%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)45.18%11.92%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

TransUnion (TRU) at 19.75 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Jacobs (J) at 49.47 sits in the richer quartile — J needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.

J

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

49.47

J
49.47
Max
49.47
Q3
33.76
Median
24.16
Q1
16.01
Min
1.89

TRU

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

19.75

Max
49.47
Q3
33.76
Median
24.16
TRU
19.75
Q1
16.01
Min
1.89
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Jacobs (J) vs. TransUnion (TRU): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

On P/S ratio, both Jacobs (J) at 1.23 and TransUnion (TRU) at 3.07 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.

J

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

1.23

Max
7.17
Q3
3.35
Median
1.33
J
1.23
Q1
0.69
Min
0.11

TRU

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

3.07

Max
7.17
Q3
3.35
TRU
3.07
Median
1.33
Q1
0.69
Min
0.11
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Jacobs (J) vs. TransUnion (TRU): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

On P/B ratio, both Jacobs (J) at 5.34 and TransUnion (TRU) at 3.19 are valued close to their industries’ norm against book — neither stands out from peers.

J

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

5.34

Max
11.25
Q3
6.08
J
5.34
Median
2.92
Q1
1.55
Min
-2.78

TRU

Commercial & Professional Services industry group

3.19

Max
11.25
Q3
6.08
TRU
3.19
Median
2.92
Q1
1.55
Min
-2.78
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Jacobs (J) vs. TransUnion (TRU): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Commercial & Professional Services industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Jacobs (J) and TransUnion (TRU)
MetricJTRU
P/E Ratio (TTM)49.4719.75
P/S Ratio (TTM)1.233.07
P/B Ratio (MRQ)5.343.19
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)3.71%5.91%